Meet Guy Shilo | Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Guy Shilo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Guy, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Growing up as a dedicated Star Wars fan, I was fascinated to uncover the rich lore of Jewish black magic when I was 26. It turns out my cultural background is filled with elements of fantasy and mythology I could deeply relate to as a child.

Today, many Jews worldwide attempt to reconnect with their community and heritage through religious books and stories. Unfortunately, they’re boring as hell.

My goal is to help Jewish young adults engage with their heritage through fun and imaginative worlds that are non-political and non-religious. That’s why I am creating an original franchise featuring films, graphic novels, and more, all focused on Jewish black magic. It’s like Harry Potter, but for Jews!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
During my second year in film school, I created an intimate film about my parents’ divorce, which ended up being accepted into a major film festival. Surprisingly, watching the film on the big screen made me realize it was good, but also banal. Any child of divorced parents could have made a similar film.

This realization sparked a desire in me to create something truly groundbreaking. Shortly after, I discovered the world of Jewish black magic, and it just clicked.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would probably take them to the LACMA. I really like the place and the cafe nearby.
Continuing with food and drinks, we would get the best croissant in town at Lou the French on the Block.

Finally, returning to the Jewish theme, if someone is in LA during the Jewish high holidays, attending the Temple of the Arts service at the Saban Theatre is extraordinary. Their musical compositions are genuinely remarkable, and people of all faiths are welcome!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
While growing up, people tend to take their parents for granted, and so did I. It wasn’t until I left home and heard others’ stories about their upbringing that I truly understood the extent of the freedom and support my parents provided me.

In high school, I studied in a science classroom. Although my parents came from humble backgrounds and wanted me to choose a “practical” major in college, they ultimately supported me in pursuing my true passion: cinema. Their belief in me now inspires me to believe in myself.

Website: https://guyshilo.com

Instagram: https://Instagram.com/ThatDirectingGuy

Linkedin: https://Linkedin.com/in/gshilo

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/ThatDirectingGuy

Youtube: https://Youtube.com/@ThatDirectingGuy

Other: https://Imdb.com/name/nm13778029

Image Credits
Guy Shilo